| Answer: You can attend their gatherings and listen to their
sermons with seriousness and respect. But you should not participate in what is
called religious rituals of theirs. There has to be a line drawn on the
possibility of bringing them closer through coming closer to them.
What you have mentioned to me, or how I’ve understood it, is
that you’re attending gatherings wherein Jesus (sws) was being described as the
son of God. You had to stand in respect at what they were singing. Knowing that
what they were singing is shirk, at least a part of it, I think you shouldn’t
participate in the ritualistic activity that they are conducting. You ought to
either find ways of gracefully dissociating yourself from what they are doing at
that time or else not go there at all. As for their good people, you must find
ways to talk to them on other occasions.
Many people are following their religions sincerely. That
doesn’t mean that we should join them in what they are doing. When we know that
it is wrong to ascribe partners to God, if any such act is being done, I
wouldn’t like to be a part of it. If the person doing it is sincere, he/she will
hopefully come out of it, not necessarily because of me joining him/her in the
act.
I have a fear that joining them while they are doing things
so clearly wrong would start affecting my feelings as well. I have to be careful
about my religious feelings, first of all. No compromises on that.
To summarize, I feel there’s no harm attending their
sessions, provided you have decided to talk to them about the Islamic view, at
some point, in mind. Be a little careful, but I wouldn’t discourage you. It
gives you a reason to know how others think. Don’t participate in anything that
amounts to a religious ritual. It should only be for learning purposes and
enabling others to come close to you.
Courtesy:
http://www.islamicissues.info/qa_question.php?qid=396
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